Language Matters : Connected Speech

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Pronunciation changes in connected speech often cause comprehension problems for learners. To help them you need a clear understanding of what the features are and how they affect words in the stream of speech. Check how well you understand this area by working on the following questions. If you're new to the area, click on the links first to see the explanation of the term in the ELT Glossary, and spread them out over a period of time, reviewing each one you've done previously before moving on. That way you won't confuse yourself  

When you've completed each question, look at this page for the suggested answers.

 

1. Catenation: Two different types of catenation occur in English and both are
exemplified in the sentence below. What are they? Write the sentence in
phonemic script, indicating where catenation would occur:  

Go and see if "Law and Order" is still on TV or if
it's already over.

2. Elision: How many
examples of elision might occur in the following sentence if spoken at normal
conversational speed?   I thought we
might have smoked salmon first, then roast pork and various different
vegetables, and finish it all off with chocolate mousse and cream.

Transcribe the sentence in its citation form first and then
again, deleting any phonemes you think might not be pronounced.

 

3. Assimilation

 

1.   Transcribe the
following phrases in phonemic script in their citation form, and then comment
on and transcribe the instances of assimilation.



a) a white bag



b) a pet guinea pig



c) he's in Peru



d) he's in Korea

 

2.   The highlighted
words in the  following two examples show
a different type of assimilation from those in examples a-d. Why? Choose one of
the six underlined examples, transcribe the word(s) in their citation form,
then comment on and transcribe the
changes caused by assimilation.

a) I have to go, but he has to stay.



b) Cats and dogs mewed and barked.

 

4.
Putting it all together 

Comment on, and illustrate in
phonemic script, the features of connected speech that might occur in the
following sentence: 

What
do you want me to do about Tom's e-mail?

As well as the three features analysed above, you'll also need to think about weak forms, yod coalescence and gemination.